School, groups aim to raise breast cancer awareness

In honor of Breast Cancer awareness month FAMU will host events dedicated to raising the importance of the disease and its prevention.

The student government association’s office of the surgeon general kicked off the month with a “Relay for Life Rally.”

Shara Senior, SGA surgeon general and chairperson for relay for life said the goal of the event is to bring a lot of energy and awareness to the student body about breast cancer and for relay for life, which takes place in the spring semester.

The office of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. will host, “Night out for Breast Cancer” Thursday in the grand ballroom from 7-9 p.m. The event will honor the four principles of breast cancer, which are faith, love, beauty and courage.

“Breast cancer does whatever it wants to do,” said Kathy Ashton, an area patient service representative for the American Cancer Society.

According to Ashton, Caucasians get breast cancer more often than blacks but the mortality rate for blacks is higher.

“We think the reason is they’re (blacks) not getting the cancer detected at its earliest stage when it’s most treatable,” Ashton said.

In an effort to increase awareness of breast cancer issues, especially the importance of early detection of breast cancer, the American Cancer Society of Leon County will sponsor a fashion show on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Governor’s Square Mall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Breast Cancer survivors will model a line of clothing from Talbots.

“We know that breast cancer is not preventable but by raising awareness we can detect it as early as possible,” said Michael Maghuson, American Cancer Society Community representative for Leon County.

“Detect it (breast cancer) early because it is 97 percent survivable,” Ashton said.

Ashton urges women to get a mammogram at the age of 40, conduct a self-breast exam periodically and women in their early twenties should get a clinical exam every three years.

Dana Vaughn can be reached at dnvaughn@yahoo.com